IGN

Super Stardust Delta looks beautiful, runs well, totes short load times and has a great soundtrack. That’s all well and good, but what makes the game so damn good is its addicting, twitch dual analog gameplay. Something tells me that many a PlayStation Vita gamer will have an incredibly hard time putting down Super Stardust Delta, if not for the gameplay then for the hyper-competitive nature of the leaderboards.

It’s good, chaotic fun and has a baseline level of quality and polish that’s pleasing to see. If this is your first Wipeout game, chances are you’ll have a blast. For veterans, however – especially those schooled in the delights of HD and Fury – this game just isn’t as smooth in feel or as elegant in design. In short, while Wipeout 2048 is well worth checking out, just be aware that for every design hit there’s also a miss.

Dear Esther is that rarest of things: a truly interesting game. It left me feeling pensive, mildly saddened, and confident that games have plenty of directions left to explore. If you’re interested in what can be achieved when you abandon the conventions of games and explore the fringes of the form instead, it’s a must-play.

Gotham City Impostors is a functional shooter with a sense of humor and a Batman license. It's got plenty to unlock, but it's not all that deep. Go, shoot, win. Over and over. If you're looking for a first-person shooter that doesn't take itself seriously, have at it, but don't expect a FPS revolution.

Grand Slam Tennis is as slick and professional a tennis game as you could hope for, and though it lacks something of Top Spin's passion for the sport, the inclusion of Wimbledon and the wider roster really do make a difference. There's room for improvement – chiefly in the variety of game modes, the selection of commentary snippets and the pace of the career mode - but for now, Grand Slam Tennis 2 is the best game of tennis that video games have to offer.

The sheer amount of new content in UFC Undisputed 3 is staggering. The devs have managed to combine elements to make the experience less intimidating while still adding in a ton of new features to keep hardcore fans engaged. Taking some time off to rethink their game plan was a great move by the developers, and it really shows.

Despite some problems with polish and a story that takes time to develop into something great, The Darkness II ends up as an early treat in the new year. The narrative elements help the pacing considerably, breaking up Jackie's engaging and brutal murderfests. It may not end up being the best shooter of 2012, but it could very well be the one that makes you feel the most powerful.

Resident Evil Revelations is a great handheld game, one that not only pushes the boundaries and standards of the Nintendo 3DS but one that recaptures a long-forgotten spirit of a classic franchise. Make no mistake about it, this is a full Resident Evil adventure that isn't watered down because it's in portable form. That's no small accomplishment. Despite its disappointments, Revelations will be remembered as one of the better entries in this series, and should serve as a notice to all other developers, including Nintendo itself - this is the type of production value we want to see on the 3DS.

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack stole my heart. It's visually delicious, the cutscenes ooze with humor, and the actual gameplay feels perfectly balanced. It won't take you long to go through every level, but doubling back to polish off collectables and earn gold medals will keep me playing.

Developer Klei was aggressive about smoothing rougher edges, and the minor tweaks in Shank 2 make a major difference. It's a more responsive, faster action title that does away with the damning side of its dazzling animation. This is a smooth brawler with gorgeous spectacle, and its dedication to nailing its second chance makes it one of the best action games in recent memory.